“Bottom line” is an idiom used to describe the most essential information, often in financial reports. It can also refer to net income, stock prices, and debt. In other situations, it is used to summarize current circumstances without unrelated opinions or facts. The phrase can have positive or negative connotations depending on the results.
The idiomatic expression “bottom line” refers to a usually short and concise concept, idea, thought or conclusion that is given greater importance than other related topics that are often considered extraneous or even unnecessary. This idiom usually indicates only the most essential or relevant information once the additional factors are ignored. The “bottom line” is often used to describe the results of financial reports and other business objectives such as project results. Using these types of sayings usually involves concern for direct results and an emphasis on receiving a quick conclusion that facilitates planning the next course of action for a given situation.
Accountants often use the “bottom line” idiom to describe a company’s net income over a specific period of time such as a month or a year. The term is actually derived from the last digit counted in the final column and row of an accounting spreadsheet. Financial professionals monitoring the state of a particular company’s performance in the stock markets may sometimes also refer to the current price per share as the “bottom line.” They may also sometimes refer to an amount of money with this phrase, usually implying that this particular debt needs attention in a relatively short amount of time to avoid possible repercussions.
This English saying is also used in other situations outside the financial industry, especially those that involve a significant amount of discussion or negotiation. Managers who ask their employees about the “bottom line” usually want to hear a brief summary of the current circumstances without interjections of unrelated opinions or facts. This type of report is usually delivered in a sentence or sentence for simplicity. In business environments where efficient use of time can directly impact bottom line, updates on this type of information can be especially important in many situations. A prospective new employee may often view the pay rate offered as an important “bottom line” as well.
These types of idiomatic sayings can have positive or negative connotations depending on the given circumstances that are directly related to the results. A business project can be fraught with difficulties in the process, but can have a good bottom line if the results generate profits or other desired outcomes. Another business that continues to lose money despite small individual successes may be considered a less favorable conclusion.
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